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God's Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe Paperback – August 1, 2015
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Join J. Warner Wallace, former atheist, seasoned cold-case detective, and popular national speaker as he tackles his most important case ... with you on the jury!
With the expertise of a cold-case detective, J. Warner examines eight critical pieces of evidence in the “crime scene” of the universe to determine if they point to a Divine Intruder. If you have ever wondered if something (or someone) outside the natural realm created the universe and everything in it, this is the case for you.
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDavid C Cook
- Publication dateAugust 1, 2015
- Dimensions7 x 1.38 x 9 inches
- ISBN-109781434707840
- ISBN-13978-1434707840
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God's Crime Scene | Participant's Guide | Video Series | God's Crime Scene for Kids | |
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Overview | With the expertise of a cold-case detective, J. Warner examines eight critical pieces of evidence in the "crime scene" of the universe to determine if they point to a Divine Intruder. | Companion to the eight-part video series, participants will dive into one of the most meaningful and challenging questions: Does God exist? | Join renowned cold-case detective, author, and speaker J. Warner Wallace in this compelling eight-session video series with facilitator’s guide. | n this companion to Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, Jason uncovers a mystery in his grandmother’s attic. He and his friends, Hannah, Daniel and Jasmine, enlist the help of Detective Jeffries at the Jr. Detective’s Academy. |
Editorial Reviews
Review
Eric Metaxas
New York Times Best-selling author of Miracles and Bonhoeffer
"Around Dateline, we had a phrase to describe J Warner Wallace: 'The Evidence Whisperer.' He would come up with some unlikely bit of long neglected flotsam, realize it was key evidence, and work it until he'd wrung out every possible lead. Jim helped bring cases to court, and our stories to life. And when I discovered he enjoys debating religious questions with an inquisitive guy like me? Well that was true joy. Mind you, we agree about almost nothing. But in this book he makes his case as always with verve and charm ...just like my friend Jim."
Keith Morrison
News Correspondent, Dateline (NBC)
"With the tenacity of a homicide detective and the careful reasoning of a scholar, Jim Wallace uses the forensic method of scientific investigation to establish - beyond reasonable doubt - that God exists!"
Dr. Stephen C. Meyer
Author of the New York Times bestseller Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design
"If I am ever in court, I want Jim Wallace on my side. As he did in Cold Case Christianity, Jim demonstrates that years of experience as a detective is excellent training for clear thinking on any subject matter. He patiently unfolds the evidence just as he must have done in countless courtrooms, educating the jury on the facts of the case and on proper reasoning from the facts. Drawing analogies from actual crime scenes in his files, he lends human drama to logical arguments. A delightful book."
Nancy Pearcey
Author of Total Truth and Finding Truth
From the Author
God's Crime Scene is a unique apologetics overview, introducing a variety of arguments and lines of evidence for God's existence from the perspective of a Cold Case Homicide Detective. It's my goal to provide a satisfying examination of eight pieces of evidence in our universe, without wandering too deeply into esoteric scientific or philosophical detail. I wrote God's Crime Scene as an accessible survey of the evidence, directed toward both the layperson as well as those who are already familiar with the data. God's Crime Scene seeks to demonstrate the truth of Theism evidentially, just as my prior work, Cold Case Christianity, sought to demonstrate the reliability of the Christian Gospels.
From the Inside Flap
Lee Strobel
New York Times best-selling author and professor at Houston Baptist University
"NBC's Dateline keeps calling J. Warner Wallace because he brilliantly solves murder cases that are decades old. Now Jim uses his proven detective skills to solve the greatest case of all: who or what best explains all of reality? Detective Wallace whisks you along from investigating real-world homicides with one penetrating question into eight of the most marvelous aspects of reality that every thinking person must explain. The result is a relentless pursuit of evidence that ends at the feet of a Divine intruder. It's hard to find a more compelling and concise treatment of these issues anywhere!"
Dr. Frank Turek
President of CrossExamined.org and author of Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to make their Case
"Sherlock Holmes has nothing on J. Warner Wallace. In God's Crime Scene, Wallace uses the tools of a world-class homicide detective to discern whether or not clues point in the direction of a Divine Intruder. The reader can almost hear the words, 'Elementary...my dear Watson,' as Wallace evaluates the evidence for cosmic design. A highly readable resource by which seekers and skeptics can follow truth toward its origins."
Hank Hanegraaff
Bestselling Author and President of the Christian Research Institute
"I have had the distinct pleasure of working a number of difficult and multifaceted homicide cases with Jim Wallace. In a complex homicide, using analytical logic serves to make the story of the crime and crime scene understandable to the jury. Jim utilizes the same methodology to apply his carefully constructed and well thought out arguments explaining the existence of God through the creation of the universe. His simple yet superb analysis and analogies to crime scene investigations is a must-read for those of faith and more importantly for those with questions and doubts."
Mark Safarik
FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit Criminal Profiler (Ret.), Forensic Behavioral Services International, Director
"J. Warner Wallace continues building a fascinating, well-rounded, even-handed case for the Christian faith. For those interested in the available evidence for God, his book points the way."
Paul Copan
Professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, Florida; and coauthor of Did God Really Command Genocide? and An Introduction to Biblical Ethics
"One of the great pleasures in life is watching a skilled detective unravel a mystery. The existence of the universe, and the life within it, is arguably the greatest mystery of all. Wallace unravels it carefully and meticulously using an impressive synthesis of current scientific evidence, rock-solid reasoning, and his own experience as a cold-case detective. All of this is presented in a whodunnit narrative that is both engaging and convincing. If I hadn't already been a believer before reading God's Crime Scene, I almost certainly would be now."
Sarah Salviander, Ph.D.
Astrophysicist, Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, and Christian apologist at SixDay Science
"J. Warner Wallace has done something rare in God's Crime Scene. He has managed to wrestle complex issues in science and philosophy into a coherent, accessible, and wickedly fun defense of the theistic view of the world that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Others have tried and, in my view, have fallen far short. Wallace succeeds and with tremendous flair. I encourage every church and small group on the planet to gather together and study this book. Christendom will be much better off for doing so."
Craig J. Hazen, Ph.D.
Founder and Director of the Graduate Program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University and author of Five Sacred Crossings.
"Serving as a pastor in a local church with youth and college-aged Christians for over 20 years, one of the main questions I get is about our origins and creation. I've always had a dilemma in sending someone to a resource to answer these questions. Not that there aren't great books out there, but I find they are either (1) far too technical or philosophical, (2) too simplistic in their answers, or (3) unintentionally demeaning to non-believers who are still searching. In God's Crime Scene, J. Warner Wallace addresses the frequently asked questions about origins and does so in a way that communicates to thinking college-students, Christians, and non-Christians alike. I am very thankful for this book as it is unlike most others. I am thrilled to think of the impact it will have on all those reading it."
Dan Kimball
Pastor of Vintage Faith Church, and author of Adventures in Churchland: Finding Jesus in the Mess of Organized Religion
"In God's Crime Scene, retired homicide investigator and Christian speaker, apologist and author Jim Wallace examines the question: Did God create the universe (and intelligent life) or did everything evolve without divine intervention. Employing the same logic that enabled him to solve difficult cold-cases during his career, Wallace methodically refutes the arguments of evolution oriented philosophers and scientists. Citing compelling and cumulative cosmological, biological, mental and moral evidence, as well as interesting details from some of his homicide cases, Wallace builds a solid case that our universe was purposefully created and fine-tuned by a benevolent loving Creator God who is interested and intimately involved in our daily lives. This indispensable volume will enlighten skeptics and believers. I highly recommend it."
Sharon S. Smith, Ph.D.
FBI Agent (Retired), Forensic Psychologist and President of Forensic Psycholinguistics, LLC.
"J. Warner Wallace presents the intelligent design argument for the machinery of the cell in crystal-clear, straightforward prose. Why do sophisticated, information-rich systems in life point insistently to the conscious intentions of a designer? Let a former homicide detective who spent a career sifting clues for signs of intention explain it to you."
Michael Behe, Ph.D.
Biochemist, Professor at Lehigh University, and Author of Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
"Can we stay within the universe to explain our existence or does the evidence point to something "outside the room"? J. Werner Wallace applies his well-known detective skills to survey fields ranging from cosmology to biology to consciousness to ethics and faithfully follows where the evidence leads. While one could object to parts of his analysis, the breadth of material Wallace brings to the table argues convincingly that a supernatural being (God), provides the best explanation of all the data."
Dr. Jeffrey Zweerink
Astrophysicist with Reasons to Believe and Author of Who's Afraid of the Multiverse?
"With all the expertise and finesse of a life devoted to methodical investigation, Wallace leads the cautious examiner through the evidence in our world, concluding that the universe is not a closed system: Someone has been in the room. God's Crime Scene is an excellent overview of the arguments and evidence for God's existence from a fresh perspective. I highly recommend it for all who seek a better grasp or are grappling with the truth about God."
Nabeel Qureshi, M.D.
Speaker at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and Author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus
From the Back Cover
John Stonestreet
Co-Host of BreakPoint and Co-Author of Restoring All Things
"The apologetics movement needs more translators. We need to communicate the defense of the faith in ways that are accessible and compelling--but not dumbed down--to everyday people. Right now there is no one better at this than J. Warner Wallace. In this latest offering, Wallace lays out eight powerful yet understandable arguments that God is real and that it is rational to affirm His existence. Indeed, after reading this book you can't help but agree 'the heavens declare the glory of God.'"
Brett Kunkle
Student Impact Director, Stand to Reason
"J Warner Wallace's willingness to investigate possible theories regarding God's existence in multiple fields of study is refreshing. We live in a time when so many new atheists herald 'evidence and reason,' yet quickly dismiss evidence and theories contrary to the validity of their own worldview. As a veteran homicide detective, Wallace surveys the 'crime scene'--in this case, our known universe--and subjects the evidence he finds to rigorous questioning, mirroring his work on murder cases. The result is a cumulative case for God's existence weaved through detective stories that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end."
Mary Jo Sharp
Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University, Director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry and Author of Why Do You Believe That? A Faith Conversation.
"As a police detective and ministry leader, I understand that evidence is key both in solving crimes and understanding the truth of God's inerrant word (the Bible). With that foundation in mind, Detective J. Warner Wallace's latest work, God's Crime Scene, brilliantly reveals the overwhelming and irrefutable evidence for a God-created universe from a cold-case detective's perspective. This thorough and imminently understandable work should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking evidentiary proof of God's orchestration of creation or for those seeking a powerful and tool with which to defend their faith based on actual evidence versus emotional rhetoric. An enjoyable read to boot -- outstanding!
Lt. M.C. Williams
Investigator, Chaplain, and Director of the Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry
"Jim Wallace is one of the most unique defenders of the Christian faith you will ever hear. His approach to searching for evidence for God as you would for clues at the scene of a crime is as brilliant as it is understandable. You will be challenged to answer the question: Is life an accident or is an outside 'Agent' to blame?"
Rice Broocks
Co-Founder of Every Nation Ministries, Senior Pastor of Bethel World Outreach Church and Author of God's Not Dead
"Detective Wallace has done it again. God's Crime Scene is one of the most insightful, interesting, and enjoyable apologetics books I have read in a long time. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, you will walk away challenged by this book."
Sean McDowell, Ph.D.
Biola University Professor, speaker, and co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention?
"J. Warner Wallace knows evidence--how to gather it, how to evaluate it, and how to come to reasonable conclusions. These are the invaluable tools he passes on to us in God's Crime Scene as he weaves together a clear, systematic, cumulative case for the existence of God with stories from his career as a detective. The result is a fascinating read that will train you in the art of uncovering truth."
Amy K. Hall
Apologist at Stand to Reason
"With my background as a trial lawyer, I deeply appreciate Jim Wallace's ability to gather all of the complex evidence and present it in an easy to understand, yet fair case. Jim has done that in God's Crime Scene. His integrity and determination in investigating human crime scenes bleeds through the pages of this book. As you read it, you'll not only feel what it's like to be a detective doggedly hunting for the truth, but you'll also know how credible the case for Christianity really is. Wallace has done all of us a tremendous service with God's Crime Scene."
Abdu Murray
Lawyer, Speaker and Author of Grand Central Question: Answering the Critical Concerns of the Major Worldviews.
"J. Warner Wallace has done it again. Turning his keen analytical skills and extensive detective experience to the question of God, Jim Wallace's God's Crime Scene shows the utter bankruptcy of the contemporary materialist view of reality to which many atheists appeal in their attempts to challenge Christian theism. God's Crime Scene has the best of an exciting crime novel and a thoroughly researched and informative apologetic work. Appealing to facts about our world that no sane person could deny, Wallace shows how the atheistic scientific worldview repeatedly fails to account for these facts and that a robust Christian theism can provide a better accounting for why the universe is the way it is."
Richard Howe, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 1434707849
- Publisher : David C Cook (August 1, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781434707840
- ISBN-13 : 978-1434707840
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1.38 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #55,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #145 in Evangelism
- #257 in Christian Apologetics (Books)
- #342 in Christian Discipleship (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
J. Warner Wallace is a cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker and best-selling author. He continues to consult on cold-case investigations while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University and a faculty member at Summit Ministries. J. Warner was a conscientious and vocal atheist until the age of thirty-five, when he took a serious and expansive look at the evidence for the Christian Worldview and determined that Christianity was demonstrably true. After becoming a Christ follower in 1996, Jim continued to take an evidential approach to truth as he examined the Christian worldview. He eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
J. Warner’s professional investigative work has received national recognition; his cases have been featured more than any other detective on NBC’s Dateline, and his work has also appeared on CourtTV and Fox News. He also appears on television as an investigative consultant (most recently on truTV) and had a role in God’s Not Dead 2, making the case for the historicity of Jesus. J. Warner was awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor “Sustained Superiority” Award for his continuing work on cold-case homicides, and the CopsWest Award after solving a 1979 murder. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, J. Warner provides his readers and audiences with the tools they will need to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.
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Customers find the book insightful and well-written. They describe it as an excellent, clear book aimed at the layman. Readers appreciate the concise language and diagrams that bring clarity to each subject. The pacing is described as engaging and exciting. The book provides a good mix of investigative techniques, reasoning, and science to make a case for God.
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Customers find the book provides a well-informed and compelling explanation for the universe's existence. They appreciate the quick glimpses into the science of the universe and how reality can be better understood using the known evidence. The book provides ordinary Christians with the critical thinking skills and processes needed to examine a wide array of topics.
"...in the field of forensics to determine the best explanation for several phenomena in nature, tactfully weighing the evidence throughout his..." Read more
"...only makes the case but presents a series of arguments we can use in sharing our Faith...." Read more
"...also appreciate the illustrations throughout the book that reinforce the subject matter, and even lend clarity to some points." Read more
"...I enjoyed it and would recommend it for an adult Bible study. It does begin to drag as the chapters start to resemble each other...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and understandable. They appreciate the clear organization, excellent evidence section, and valuable information presented by the author. The author is described as intelligent and thoughtful, presenting the material clearly and carefully.
"...Wallace doesn’t dilute the academic content, so much as he carefully crafts his arguments, illustrations, and research to be accessible to his..." Read more
"...Using his skills as a cold case detective, gifted communicator, and creative artist Wallace not only makes the case but presents a series of..." Read more
"...I think this may be the best book I've read on the subject. It also works for high school students and any adult who watches CSI on Netflix." Read more
"I am really enjoying the book...." Read more
Customers find the book's language clear and logical. They appreciate the diagrams, creative comparisons, and simple analogies that make complex issues relatable. The author weaves philosophy, science, and logic together in an engaging way.
"...credentials as cop, (2) his clear communication, and (3) his creative comparisons. (1) Credentials as a cop..." Read more
"...his skills as a cold case detective, gifted communicator, and creative artist Wallace not only makes the case but presents a series of arguments we..." Read more
"...As a visual person, I also appreciate the illustrations throughout the book that reinforce the subject matter, and even lend clarity to some points." Read more
"...He does all of this logically, cogently, concisely and graphically in way that any careful reader can grasp without PhDs in cosmology or biology in..." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and exciting. They appreciate the simple yet meaningful illustrations and the lively and catchy way of informing readers on solid reasons. The guide is described as entertaining and understandable, with a brilliant yet easy-going way of explaining how to approach and find answers.
"...He makes these arguments easy to understand through usually deft handling, reiteration, and that new perspective mentioned earlier...." Read more
"...to a trial helps to bring together the big picture in a way that is engaging. There are lots of competing explanations for: *..." Read more
"...already well established information that is presented in a new, engaging way (and with many useful new insights) because of the author's background..." Read more
"...author explains the evidence through the lens of a detective is both engaging and convincing. I love the diagrams throughout the book...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging with its forensics. They appreciate the homicide detective perspective and the mix of investigative techniques, reasoning, and science. The murder case opens each chapter and forms the basis for the investigation of some aspect.
"...The book even has a "secondary investigation" section that goes deeper into the topics you read in the main chapter. cons: 1...." Read more
"If you liked "Cold-Case Christianity", you will love "God's Crime Scene"...." Read more
"...The book is interspersed with stories of crime scenes to better explain the points the author is making...." Read more
"...(Cold-Case Christianity, Forensic Faith, God’s Crime Scene and So The Next Generation Will Know)...." Read more
Customers like the visual quality of the book. They mention great pictures and illustrations inside.
"...student in Design and Architecture from UCLA, his illustrations function as excellent visual aids in explaining such complex information...." Read more
"...Each chapter utilizes numerous graphic illustrations to simplify and summarize Wallace’s thought processes...." Read more
"...Filled with graphics and drawings of the highest quality, it is easy for you to lose track of time while getting caught up in this amazing book...." Read more
"...I also enjoyed the illustrations and graphics used to better backup the evidence...." Read more
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2015This review can be found in its entirety at “Evidence Unseen.”
I must join many others in endorsing J. Warner Wallace’s recent book God’s Crime Scene (2015). Wallace covers a number of different topics regarding the evidence for theism, divvying up each topic into eight chapters: (1) the cosmological evidence, (2) fine-tuning, (3) origin of life, (4) irreducible complexity, (5) consciousness, (6) free will, (7) morality, and (8) evil.
While much has been written on the rational basis for Christian theism, three unique contributions make Wallace’s book stand out: (1) his credentials as cop, (2) his clear communication, and (3) his creative comparisons.
(1) Credentials as a cop
J. Warner Wallace (not to be confused with Jim Wallace of Sojourners) served as a cold-case homicide detective for two decades. Cold-case detectives have one of the toughest jobs on Earth. When a crime scene goes “cold,” this means that the detectives have given up the case due to insufficient leads. This is when “cold-case detectives” enter the scene—sometimes decades after the crime occurred.
As a cold-case detective, Wallace had a perfect conviction record. That is, every one of his cases that went to trial resulted in a conviction of guilt. In one particular case which was over three decades old, Robert Shapiro (O.J. Simpson’s notorious attorney) represented the defendant. Yet Wallace’s meticulous presentation of the evidence resulted in finding the suspect guilty.
As a credentialed detective, Wallace appeared on Dateline over the years to explain several of his cases. Though Keith Morrison of Dateline doesn’t agree with Jim’s Christian beliefs, he still endorsed his book by writing,
Around Dateline, we had a phrase to describe J Warner Wallace: ‘The Evidence Whisperer.’ He would come up with some unlikely bit of long neglected flotsam, realize it was key evidence, and work it until he’d wrung out every possible lead. Jim helped bring cases to court, and our stories to life. And when I discovered he enjoys debating religious questions with an inquisitive guy like me? Well that was true joy. Mind you, we agree about almost nothing. But in this book he makes his case as always with verve and charm... just like my friend Jim.” Keith Morrison. News Correspondent, Dateline (NBC)
Experts in the field of philosophy, science, and apologetics have also come forward to endorse the book, including Lee Strobel, Stephen Meyer, Hank Hanegraaff, Paul Copan, Craig Hazen, Sean McDowell, and Michael Behe. With such a list of endorsements, Wallace finds himself in good company to make his case.
(2) Clear communication
In his own words, Wallace described himself as an “angry atheist,” who would debate with his Christian friends regarding faith in God. It wasn’t until he investigated the evidence for himself that he discovered the credibility of the Christian worldview. After meeting Christ in 1996, Wallace served as a youth pastor, and later planted a church in 2006. During this time, he developed a robust apologetics website and podcast.
I suspect that his background as a skeptic and his work as a practitioner helped him to develop into such a fine communicator. While many scholars can effectively communicate to one another in the world of academia, few are able to communicate with the “person on the street.” It is here that Wallace particularly excels. In God’s Crime Scene, Wallace doesn’t dilute the academic content, so much as he carefully crafts his arguments, illustrations, and research to be accessible to his readers.
In addition to the clarity of his writing, Wallace illustrates his own pictures, which fill the pages of his book. As a grad student in Design and Architecture from UCLA, his illustrations function as excellent visual aids in explaining such complex information.
(3) Creative comparisons
Wallace offers us a creative comparison between the evidence for God and the evidence in a courtroom, giving the reader a key analogy for surveying the evidence for theism. While we may not be experts, we sit on the jury as Wallace helps us to investigate the evidence from physics, biology, consciousness, and morality.
In his introduction (pp.19-26), Wallace invites his readers to join him on a number of different cold-cases on which he himself worked. At the crime scene, Wallace notes that really only four different causes can account for the victim’s death: (1) an accident, (2) a natural cause, (3) a suicide, or (4) an intruder. When a detective arrives at the scene of a crime, he needs to discern which explanation best explains the forensic data. If the evidence can’t be explained by options 1-3, then the detective rightly concludes that an intruder committed a crime.
This illustration (the central thesis of the book to which Wallace habitually returns throughout) serves as a creative way to explain how to conduct our investigation for God. If the evidence “inside the room” (i.e. the material universe) cannot adequately explain the facts of cosmology, physics, biology, morality, and consciousness, are we not rationally allowed to consider the plausibility of a Divine Intruder? Wallace utilizes this illustration in a number of key ways:
(1) Assessing a reasonable standard of proof. When jurors render a verdict, they do so on the basis good evidence—not certainty. Of course, no one is 100% certain in any court case. Wallace writes, “The standard of proof (SOP) in the most critical of criminal trials is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ not ‘beyond a possible doubt.’ I’ve never conducted the perfect investigation, and we’ve never presented the perfect case before a jury… Jurors can’t wait for what might be discovered ten years from now. If there’s enough evidence to make a decision, they’re asked to make a decision.” (p.202)
(2) Determining the best explanation. When Police find a man with 54 stab wounds, they would admit that it is at least possible that 54 people each stabbed the man once. But which explanation is most plausible? 54 killers who stabbed him once, or one killer who stabbed him 54 times? Likewise, as we consider multiple lines of scientific evidence, we discover that the various explanations contradict one another or stretch our credulity when paired together. The explanation with the most explanatory power is theism, which Wallace draws together in his final chapter (“Closing Argument”).
(3) Interpreting the facts. While juror’s need nothing less than good evidence and facts in a court of law, they need something more—a careful analysis and interpretation of the evidence. Likewise, in our search for God, we need more than just a compilation of evidence. We need to think critically and draw inferences about the evidence set before us. Wallace uses his expertise to help us carefully discern the best explanation for the eight phenomena he addresses.
Wallace doesn’t just tell us what to think about the evidence for God’s existence, he teaches us how to think about it. He carefully compares principles of abductive reasoning in the field of forensics to determine the best explanation for several phenomena in nature, tactfully weighing the evidence throughout his book.
(4) Understanding the nature of a cumulative case. In a court of law, the prosecution will marshal several lines of circumstantial evidence: expert witnesses, fingerprints, footprints, DNA evidence, motive etc. Jurors listen to this evidence and then determine the best explanation. Likewise, in making his case, Wallace offers eight lines of evidence for belief in God. While some lines of evidence are stronger than others, the combined force of the evidence allows us to render a rational verdict.
(5) Explaining the urgency of rendering a verdict. If a death occurred due to an accident, a natural cause, or a suicide, we wouldn’t feel too much urgency in forensic investigation. But murder? If we suspected an intruder was responsible, urgency would infuse our search. Wallace, writes, “Murder investigations go cold when the first detectives fail to act with a sense of urgency. If they wait too long, potential witnesses are harder to locate and evidence is destroyed before it can be recovered. Even as a cold-case detective, I have a similar sense of urgency in my secondary investigation. If I wait too long, my witnesses or suspects may die of old age before I can contact and interview them. To be successful, I have to work within the lifetime of the people involved in my case.” (p.204) In the same way, we don’t have an eternity to make a decision for Christ. God expects us to pursue the truth before we leave this world to be with Christ (or he enters our world to be with us). It only makes sense to investigate the case for God’s existence, which is the greatest investigation of them all.
(6) Understanding the nature of the Divine Intruder. Lest we be turned off to comparing God to a murder suspect, Wallace shows where the analogy breaks down. In a stirring conclusion to the book, Wallace turns the tables on the reader, noting that God isn’t the criminal in this illustration; in fact, we are! He writes,
“One way to overcome your discomfort with the idea of a Divine Intruder is to rethink the nature of your home and the identity of the Intruder. I bet you never think of yourself as an intruder when you come home after a day at work or an afternoon of running errands. At your house, you are the inhabitant, not the intruder. You can’t be an intruder in your own home. The Divine Intruder we’ve described as the source for all the cosmological, biological, mental, and moral evidence in the universe is the Creator of our home. It’s His house and He’s still the primary owner and inhabitant. In our limited, self-focused view of reality, we’ve imagined this to be our universe, when in fact, it is His. We are His guests. We are the ones living in the universe God created, resisting the existence of our Creator (and landlord), and viewing Him as the intruder in our lives.” (p.201)
Conclusion
Years ago, Lee Strobel employed his skills as an investigative reporter to bring the evidence for Christianity into the public arena. Today, J. Warner Wallace has taken this investigation to the next level, using his expertise as a detective to solve the greatest case of them all: God’s existence. Wherever you land on your verdict for God, I hope you’ll agree that the expertise and the reliability of this detective is a “case closed.”
- Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2024J. Warner Wallace chronicles his journey of discovering whether there is enough evidence to make the case for God's Existence. Using his skills as a cold case detective, gifted communicator, and creative artist Wallace not only makes the case but presents a series of arguments we can use in sharing our Faith. Not only a great read but also a teacher of Great Truths you need to share.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024I really appreciate the way J. Warner Wallace presents clear, thoughtfully prepared information on tricky, controversial subjects. As a visual person, I also appreciate the illustrations throughout the book that reinforce the subject matter, and even lend clarity to some points.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017I'm a Constitutional Lawyer and have been studying how origins science should be taught in K-12 Public Education for about 18 years.
As a consequence I have read zillions of books and articles about the science of the origin and nature of the cosmos, of life and the diversity of life. Many are excellent as to a particular subject, but often not written for a non-scientist. None of those extend the inquiry to the softer sciences that relate to the origin of free will, consciousness and morality. Few are both concise and cogent.
They also fail to explain the special logic used by historical scientists. The forensic science practiced by Wallace in his work as a cold case detective is an historical science. The logic for determining the cause of an unobserved past event is called abductive reasoning. In abduction one postulates multiple competing hypotheses for the cause of an event and then seeks an inference to the best explanation by seeking evidence that rules in one of the possibilities while ruling out the others.
Since forensic science and origins science use the same logic, Wallace is able to use a variety of actual crime scene investigations that sought the cause of a death as a model to explain the logic of an objective investigation of the cause of life.
The key problem with modern origins science is that instead of using abduction to seek the best of competing alternatives, it uses the tunnel vision. The vision of the investigation is tunneled due to a concealed doctrine called methodological naturalism. That doctrine requires that only a materialistic/atheistic hypothesis may be considered when seeking to explain the cause of an origin event. This tunnel vision closes the case before it even starts. Wallace rejects tunnel vision in both investigations of the cause of death and the cause of life.
Wallace clearly has a bias. However, he explains it at the outset as a switch from atheism to theism. He also manages the bias by addressing all of the competing arguments and explaining why he believes them to be inadequate.
He does all of this logically, cogently, concisely and graphically in way that any careful reader can grasp without PhDs in cosmology or biology in about 270 pages.
I think this may be the best book I've read on the subject. It also works for high school students and any adult who watches CSI on Netflix.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024The author systematically builds his case. It’s an interesting approach to the question of God’s existence and intelligent design. I enjoyed it and would recommend it for an adult Bible study.
It does begin to drag as the chapters start to resemble each other. My question about books like this and “The Case for Christ” is whether they actually change anybody’s mind. Sunday School class discussions become a bit of “preaching to the choir”. This isn’t the author’s fault or the book’s fault.
Top reviews from other countries
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Daniel BorregoReviewed in Mexico on April 21, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro para defender la existencia de Dios
El detective Wallace hace un gran trabajo al resumir, de una manera entendible para cualquier persona, los diferentes argumentos sobre la existencia de Dios, organizándolos y contándolo de manera análoga con casos que ayudo a resolver aplicando las diferentes técnicas forenses que domina. Aporta argumentos contundentes contra las principales objeciones que los escépticos presentan ante el argumento de la existencia de Dios.
- J. JacobReviewed in India on October 1, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Study
This is a very detailed and thorough study and an beautiful approach to prove the existence of God. We had seen some of Wallace's videos online, but the book has so much more. He takes a philosophical and scientific approach to prove a biblical truth. Amazing.
My husband and I are beginning a small-group youth bible study based on this book this week. We are looking forward to using this book and the Participant's guide.
The book is easy to follow and quite interestingly written. The images help a lot. I highly recommend this book to any one who is wanting to learn on how to defend their faith.
- Average GuyReviewed in Canada on January 5, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking and Honest
I found this book to be very technical,methodical and convincing. I tried to put my preconceptions aside while reading this. To some it may be difficult to understand, so a second read may be necessary.
I am surprised at the knowledge Wallace has of the different science disciplines he touches on, and his consistent use of processes to asses facts and piece them together. His methods may convince some, but I've found that even blatantly obvious facts are not enough to persuade a large sector of the public.
I would recommend this book to those who are more analytically inclined and want to investigate the world around them with a different lens.
- ReginaReviewed in Australia on August 13, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Great investigation to prove God is not dead!
I will use this book as a Bible study tool.
- Chris AbelsReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars The evidence points to someone outside the room.
J. Warner Wallace’s book, God’s Crime Scene, is a refreshingly new approach in apologetics. Drawing on his years of experience as a cold case investigator Wallace brings a detective’s perspective to evidence evaluation and case construction.
In cold cases the witnesses may have died and the investigators who originally recorded the crime may also have died. Yet, even in such cases, the cold case investigator can reconstruct the case such that in a court of law enough evidence can be produced so that the accused can be found guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.
According to Wallace there are four reasons for any death. These are natural causes, accidental death, suicide and homicide. When the investigator approaches a death scene, he assesses the evidence. In the case of natural death, accidental death and suicide, he can account for the event by evidence inside the room. In the case of homicide, the evidence points to someone outside the room. A homicide turns a death scene into a crime scene.
Wallace depicts the universe as a crime scene and using the methodology of a cold case investigator and the dichotomy of inside the room and outside the room, he shows that by using four categories of evidence; viz, cosmological evidence, biological evidence, mental evidence and moral evidence, the most reasonable explanation is that the evidence depicted indicates that some agent “outside the room” is responsible for the creation of the universe. Thus the creation of the universe cannot be accounted for on naturalistic grounds.
Wallace’s style of writing and his frequent references to other cases of homicide makes this account accessible to both the general and the more serious reader. His attention to detail and his abductive reasoning skills shows in the way he weighs up the evidence to provide the best and most reasonable explanation for the evidence at hand. He provides enough resources so that the serious reader can further investigate the evidence.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone interested in the subject.